Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Spell Weaver

Rate this book
Myka's dream was to someday own his shop, making and spelling suits that were prized throughout the world. Instead, he rejected an apprenticeship with a master who proved to be reprehensible—and untouchable—and lost everything. Now, he works in a derelict shop in the wrong part of town, and it's only a matter of time before he's caught spelling without a license or thrown out by his odious landlord.

The only bright part of his days are the occasional visits from his best client, Johan, a man who works in the palace and always brings the finest suits to have spelled. When he accidentally leaves behind an invitation to the royal ball, Myka takes it, determined to have one evening where he can enjoy himself—and perhaps even spend time with Johan as something other than a spell weaver.

47 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 29, 2016

36 people are currently reading
316 people want to read

About the author

Megan Derr

281 books2,930 followers
Megan is a long time resident of queer romance and keeps herself busy reading and writing it. She is often accused of fluff and nonsense. When she’s not involved in writing, she likes to cook, harass her wife and cats, or watch movies. She loves to hear from readers and can be found all over the internet.

meganderr.com
patreon.com/meganderr
meganderr.blogspot.com
facebook.com/meganaprilderr
meganaderr@gmail.com
@meganaderr

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
242 (26%)
4 stars
387 (42%)
3 stars
242 (26%)
2 stars
34 (3%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
Profile Image for ~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semi-colons~✡~.
3,555 reviews1,096 followers
June 2, 2016
~3.5~

This is an adorable little story about Myka, a tailor who weaves spells into fabrics (his specialty is suits), and Johan, the handsome, mysterious client who visits Myka's tiny shop in the bad part of town.

Myka is highly skilled but not yet a certified spell weaver; when his master passes away, Myka is stuck as an apprentice, without the legal rights to practice spell weaving. One night, in a moment of fancy and desperation, he puts charms on one of his own suits and sneaks into the palace ball.

You can see where this is going. Spell Weaver is a Cinderfella story, but without the lost slipper and kisses that go somewhere. Instead of an evil stepmother, there's a nasty landlord who wants Myka to pay his rent with sexual favors.

Because this story is so short (600 locations on my Kindle), I didn't fully connect with this couple. Johan, especially, is not a fully fleshed out character. We get but a glimpse into his personality.

Even so, this is a lightly sexy, romantic story with a tentative HEA. I enjoy Megan Derr's engaging writing style and the sweetness of her stories, especially when the sweetness is tinged with SPICE.
Profile Image for Vivian.
2,919 reviews483 followers
June 11, 2016
Poor Myka Grey, a gifted, but impoverished tailor and spell weaver. He works hard just to keep afloat, and watches other less honorable men succeed. Nonetheless, he takes joy in what he can, and his craft is what he loves. He just wishes he could do more of it.

There are bright spots to counter all the dreary, and less savory aspects to his existence, and Mr. Johan Pierson is one of those pleasures. A rush here, a slip there, and forgotten things tempt. Tempt Myka to take.

Love the characters; Myka is a dedicated artisan and Johan is the charming if roguish palace attendant. Their crossed spheres create magic, and more than what Myka is spinning. The tale is a sweet retelling of Cinderella that guarantees a smile. Derr has been respinning fairy tales and I've enjoyed their updating and charm.

Overall, a pleasant diversion to while away a bit of time.

3.5 stars

~Copy provided by NetGalley~
Profile Image for Adam.
611 reviews372 followers
August 19, 2016
A sweet dose of gay Cinderfella.

description

Myka has had a rough time. Since his master died before Myka could become a fully certified spell weaver, Myka has been practicing illegally in one of the poorest parts of the city. He’s near destitution, and will likely be on the streets soon, as his landlord has raised the rent too high for Myka to pay.

The only bright part of Myka’s life is one of his clients - Johan. He’s a kind and handsome man who works at the royal palace, and wears some of the finest suits Myka has ever worked on. Myka knows Johan is out of his league, but he can still dream about it. When Johan accidentally leaves behind an invitation to the royal ball, Myka decides to take a chance. He’ll enjoy himself while he can at the ball, and maybe even impress Johan.

But Myka goes to the ball disguised in a mask, so Johan is left wondering who his mysterious dance partner was.

I grew up on Disney, so I can’t help but equate fairy tales with the movies I watched as a kid. ‘Spell Weaver’ has a different take on Cinderella, and it works well. There’s no evil stepmother, fairy godmother, or pumpkin carriage. Instead, we’ve got a lecherous landlord, Myka’s own magical abilities, and a steam-powered carriage. The clock striking midnight still spells trouble.

While Myka’s predicament is quite gloomy, this is a very low-angst story. Myka and Johan’s interactions with one another are sweet and fluffy. They flirt a bit, but for the most part they’re pretty reserved with one another. It’s not until right near the end, when the truth about the ball comes out, that Myka and Johan admit what they feel for each other.

This is a fairy tale, so it’s easy to believe that the two are going to live happily ever after without too much effort.

Unlike a Disney movie, there’s some hot steam in ‘Spell Weaver’. There’s even some manties. Given how short this story is, I was impressed that the author was able to pack in some heat.

Overall, ‘Spell Weaver’ is a short, sweet, and slightly sexy fairy tale. Recommended if you’re looking for a quick read.


Can I request a Hercules and Aladdin mash-up next? Pretty please!
description



Profile Image for Ami.
6,227 reviews489 followers
July 1, 2016
I thought it was a cute Cinderfella story. While I might not completely able to grasp the whole spell weaving element (and why it would be truly necessary to have a separate spell weaver/tailor) I was charmed Myka's pining over Johan ... and how he ended up at the royal ball.

However, the graphic sex didn't match the tone of the story, IMHO. It ended up distracting.

Or maybe that's just me :)
Profile Image for Renée.
1,171 reviews410 followers
December 18, 2019
Short but so steamy and sweet!

This twist to Cinderella was so nice and refreshing! Spell Weaver is a tale about Myka, a spell weaver, who is very down on his luck. His Master whom he was apprenticing for has died just before Myka could take and pass his exams to become as Master himself. The rent is due, and the landlord is raising it or bartering for sexual favors. And Myka's crush, a returning client, is so far above his social status, he's in a different stratosphere.

All of that changes when Myka finds a left-behind invitation to the Royal Ball. He weaves a spell on himself that will only last 4 hours, until midnight (hehe), because he just wants to see that side of society and to enjoy fine foods, drinks, and dancing for one evening. He is surprised when Johan, his crush, asks him to dance. Johan can't recognize him, thanks to the spell Myka weaved, so Myka indulges. Dancing leads to kisses.....and a little more. But midnight comes too soon.

This was adorably cute and sexy. Megan Derr fans and others will like this one.
Profile Image for Tess.
2,193 reviews26 followers
July 19, 2016
3.5

This was cute, but not a whole lot of magic for me.
Profile Image for Nerea.
730 reviews33 followers
July 6, 2016
I wish this story would be longer and with more development!!
Hot fairytale ~
Profile Image for Saioa.
47 reviews13 followers
July 1, 2016
3.5*

This was a lovely fairytale-like short story.

description

It would have been perfect with 100 pages more tho!
Megan Derr created another charming universe here, I lover her imagination, it's such a pity she didn't develop it more. The whole spell weaving thing was interesting and Myka was just adorable, but it was too short to fully appreciate the love story, maybe if we would have had Johan's point of view too...

Still, I enjoyed it a lot :)
Profile Image for Ro.
3,120 reviews16 followers
June 10, 2016
Fairy tale all the way. This is a lovely short story of Myka, a spell crafter who happened to overhear something that made him turn down an apprenticeship with a master after his own master passed away without getting him squared away with final tests to be a master. Now he’s in a tiny shop in a worn down part of town, giving up eating at times to make the rent. Which is now going up 100 silver a month, either with money or payment with his body because his landlord is a true scumbag. His only really good thing in life right now comes in the form of his beautiful client, Johan, and his luxurious, expensive suits.
Johan coming in for a special glamour to his suit to wear to a party turns this into our Cinderfella fairy tale, only hotter. When Johan picks up the beautiful suit, he leaves behind an invitation to the royal ball by mistake. Myka, who is a good, decent person and works hard, just wants this one night to experience something for himself. So he takes the invitation, sews and spells himself a glamoured suit and heads to the royal ball. Imagine how he feels when the beautiful man hitting on him is none other than his lovely Johan. Of course they are both glamoured but Myka recognizes the suit. Johan doesn’t recognize Myka, but they have a connection regardless. It is after the ball that things get a little scary and Myka is taken to police headquarters.
I loved the whole idea of the spelled suits and clothing. I found that so unique and interesting (and I could so use some of those spells). I liked the characters and found the fairy tale aspect to work well. Recommended.
Profile Image for Lila Hunter.
Author 12 books87 followers
July 15, 2016
Rating: 3.5 stars

My View: Spell Weaver is a fresh take on the Cinderfella troupe. Myka has been working hard since his master died to keep his little shop open, but without his license, he doesn't see his life changing anytime soon. The only bright part of Myka's day is the times when Johan visits his shop. And the work he gets from him is an added bonus.

It's easy to fall for Myka in such a little story, and the way he talks about Johan makes the reader want to cheer for them. There are some unique twist and turns in the story that might get the real Cinderella blushing, but worked well with the story. Other elements like the fairy godmother, the animals, etc. are absent.

The spell weaving concept is fascinating and I wish we had more time to learn more about it and to see Myka succeed. The resolution felt a little rush, but that's to be expected in a short story. Overall, this is a very sweet and sexy story--easy to read and love.

What I liked the most: How much the MC wanted each other.

I wanted more: Time to enjoy the MCs' relationship.

Who should read it: Fairy tale lovers.

ARC provided by Less Than Three Press, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Profile Image for Tam.
Author 21 books104 followers
August 10, 2016
Myka is an off-the-book spell-weaver. When his mentor died, he refused an offer from a questionable tailor although the most famous in town. Now he works in the poor part of town hoping no one ever checks if he's got his license. He has a rich client named Johan who he's crushing on and when Johan drops his invitation to the ball, Myka decides to embellish his clothes with a spell and go. Sure enough, he meets Johan and they end up having sex in the garden until he has to make a run for it at midnight before Johan figures out that a) he's not rich and titled and b) Myka. Of course Johan figures it out and helps Myka solve is license problem and HEA. :-) I always enjoy the little shorts like that that the offer writes. They just have a lovely feel to them and you can just submerse yourself in the world she creates.
Profile Image for Deeze.
1,772 reviews284 followers
July 12, 2016
A sweet read but not long enough to really get a feel for Johan and Myka.

Normally I fall into Megan Derrs worlds with ease, and this was no different, but sadly this one was far to short to really get comfortable. It was a nice idea and with time I could of fallen deep. But sadly as much as I liked Myka and Johan, a brief hook up does not equal romance for me. I never got why Johan suddenly recognised Myka the way he did either.

Overall a quick fix but left me feeling hungry for more.

Profile Image for Kristie.
1,170 reviews76 followers
June 30, 2016
4.5 Stars

Just... buy this book, okay? I really loved it. Like, a lot. My review is up on the blog, right here. Click the thing... then go and click another thing. This really is a delightful short story. I simply can't say enough nice things about it.
Profile Image for Natalie  H.
3,772 reviews30 followers
November 26, 2019
A cinderfella story with a twist. No fairy god mother just magic of his own and of course the bad guys. Sweet and enjoyable.
Profile Image for Kendra T.
3,053 reviews39 followers
January 21, 2018
This was a cute story. Johan is a customer of Myka's spell weaving, and Myka found an invitation to the royal ball that Johan accidentally left in his shop. It had a bit of a Cinderfella feel to it, and of course Johan and Myka get together at the ball, even though there are masks. The only thing I didn't like was That said, I liked how Johan helped him because of his skill, not because of his crush.
Profile Image for Apolishedreader.
338 reviews45 followers
December 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this read. It was different for me, a premise I have never read. Spells are woven in the threads of clothing, which is pretty cool.
I would read more stories set in this world.
Profile Image for Elaine White.
Author 43 books260 followers
July 22, 2020
What a super cute, lovely Cinderella story. Nice addition of lace undies giving it a little spice. Love that Johan recognised him, without having to be told, and without too much time passing.
Profile Image for Chris, the Dalek King.
1,168 reviews153 followers
July 2, 2016
Spell Weaving is highly regulated with severe punishments for those who break the Crown’s rules. Which is why Myka doesn’t dare tell anyone that he is operating without a licence. He has no desire to end up in jail…but he also has no desire to end up living on the streets. So he keeps his head down, struggles each month to pay the rent on his little shop, and hopes that he can get along just a bit longer without bringing trouble to his doorstep. But trouble comes in all shapes and sizes, and if lusting after one of his few wealthy clients isn’t trouble in the making, well he doesn’t know what is.

Megan Derr fairy-tales are some of my favorite. She just has a wonderful way of breathing life into stories told a million times over. Here in the tale that resembles Cinderella in some fashion (a ball, forgotten items of clothing, ect…) we get to see Myka weave his magic not only over the clothes under his fingers, but over the readers as well.

While I would have loved a more in depth picture of the magic and magical world this takes place in, this short story is still enchanting. The characters are, of course, well written, and by the end of the story I couldn’t help but feel sad that it was over. Like with most things that Derr writes, I am left feeling like I could happily read another 100 pages of this story (and still want more even after that).

Very much recommend if you are looking for a short story with a great backdrop and very nice romance.


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
 photo 11014879_970988406253334_3984928259579074216_n_zpsm8c6semk.jpg
Profile Image for ReviewerLarissa.
709 reviews31 followers
May 31, 2020
Reviewed for bookwinked


What is the story about?
Spell Weaver is a short, but sweet cinderfella fairy tale-style story. In short – the blurb does a good job in not giving too much away – it tells the story of Myka. Myka is a little down on his luck and trapped in his circumstances, until things start rolling. Fairytale-style!

Is there a plot?
Yes, of course. It’s a short story, but it’s focussed on Myka and hi shop and his (illegal) spellweaving. The plot is not extensive, it’s simple, but it works for this story. It’s a little black and white, but such is the world of fairytales. There is romance too, a little drama and sweet loving. All things combined it just work for this story. What is lacks is a little world-building. Although it doesn’t bring the story down. We get glimpses of a steampunk style fairytale world with a palace and steam-driven carriages. There is magic too, hence the spellweaving, but it’s a limited view.

What about the characters?
There are not a whole lot of characters. The story is focussed on Myka and as such he is our main hero and the one we know the most about, but even his background is limited only to what we are told. As his story is not very long, both Myka and Johan remain mysterious to an extent, but they are in no way flat, one-dimensional characters. There even is a female character to balance the men out!

Did you like this story?
Yes! I may not be a big fan of short stories, but I love those written by Megan Derr as they are often (but not always) fairy tale type stories. They are short and sweet and just work for me. Myka is an instant lovable character even if he is all about doom and gloom and a oh-woes-poor-me person. The author often leave you wanting more stories set in that world, so it’s just as much about the world as it is about the characters and story itself. The romance is always sweet and the author is not afraid to write flawed characters.
Profile Image for Melanie.
386 reviews6 followers
June 23, 2016
Basically, this is a super sweet Cinderella story. Myka is our Cinderella, working hard to keep a roof over his head. He could have been more successful financially, but chose his ethics instead. He was left without an apprenticeship, and technically wasn't able to legally work his trade, weaving spells into clothing, so had to take what work came to him. His favorite patron drops an invitation to the royal ball, and Myka weaves a glamour and attends himself.

I love the magical twists the story takes, and it really is just a sweet romance. It's not super angsty, doesn't have a lot of dramatic tension, but definitely works. I love the idea of literally weaving spells into clothes, spells for glamour and bravery and silence. It's an interesting and surprisingly subversive magic. Nothing flashy, but it doesn't have to be.

Of course, I'm a fan of Megan Derr, and have yet to find a story of her's I don't like. Derr has a very realistic touch to magic - the worlds she creates aren't fully fleshed, but they don't have to be. Everything is treated as "of course it happens like this" which is a nice touch.
Profile Image for Mari  Cardenas.
2,284 reviews28 followers
July 2, 2016
*** Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. ***

Myka is a spell weaver, with a small shop on Ash Street and barely makes ends meet since he's not licensed and risks being thrown into jail, or being thrown out by his landlord, who wants to increase his rent. When his best customer, Johan, accidentally leaves his invite to a masquerade ball in the castle, Myka decides to go, with the hope that he'd see Johan there.

This was such a delightful take on Cinderella, with much more sexiness than the original. Myka and Johan were adorable and shy, but once they got together, they showed a naughtier side to their personalities. They had great chemistry and I just loved them both to bits.

All in all, it was a great read, sweet and hot, and with more plot that one would've imagined for a story so short. Very recommendable!

Rating: 4 Stars!!!

Profile Image for Eeva.
852 reviews46 followers
June 2, 2016
This short story (because you can't possibly call it a book!) is a surprising twist on Cinderalla.
Overall I pretty much enjoyed the story, because it was unique with all this tailoring and suits.
I don't feel like there was enough chemistry between the characters, even though I liked their convo in the palace at the end.
Believe or not I was really surprised that this story has magic in it! Yeah, because the title - "SPELL weaver" wasn't enough for me to notice that.

description

Yeah, whatever.

Anyways, I would recommend this story, but the world won't end if you don't read it.

~~~~

I received this book form the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Rosie.
566 reviews35 followers
June 29, 2016
Why do I keep doing this? I have a problem, I swear. I'm not sure if I've ever really liked one of Derr's short stories, YET I KEEP READING THEM! I've begun to really like her more recent stories, but her short stories tend to be superficial and drab and unexciting. Honestly, her two MCs were like cardboard - WET cardboard. I disliked Myka and his inability to do anything himself, and Johan was hell boring. Derr's imagination was the only good thing about this, but I wish that extended to the plot and characters as well.
Profile Image for Rachel Emily.
4,444 reviews379 followers
June 10, 2016
3.5 stars rounded up because I'm a sucker for a Cinderella story!

I thought this was a sweet short story, I loved the descriptions of the clothing and the spells that Myka performed. This was a nice combo of sweetness, some steam, and a HEA! I wish we had gotten to know a bit more about Johan, that's the only thing I'd have to add.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.